Peace And War Flashcards
Why would a Christian pray for a criminal?
“Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matthew 5:44)
Which Christian doctrine is capital punishment directly violating?
The sanctity of life - ‘imago dei’; “breath of life”
What teaching in Exodus is considered by some to oppose capital punishment but some say it doesn’t count for it?
“Do not murder” - Exodus 20:13
Some believe it refers to unlawful killing so capital punishment wouldn’t break it
Why may an atheist oppose capital punishment?
It makes the executioner a murderer
The person may be innocent
Which teachings on forgiveness should mean capital punishment doesn’t happen?
“Forgive us our trespasses and forgive those who trespass against us” - Our Father
“Father, forgive them they not what they do”
“Let he who is without sin throw the first stone”
“Forgive your brother… 77 times”
Capital punishment means an aim of punishment cannot be fulfilled. What is it?
A dead person cannot reform
Why may a Christian believe capital punishment is okay even though Jesus specifically taught against it?
“An eye for an eye…”
What to do with Jesus on the cross suggests capital punishment can be okay?
Jesus forgave the Good thief but didn’t release him from death
If the government allows capital punishment why may a Christian have to accept it?
St. Paul taught early Christians to obey their government
Which aim of punishment does capital punishment best fulfil?
Deterrent
Why may someone believe a murderer doesn’t deserve the same rights as innocent humans?
The murderer has lost their humanity so no longer deserves kindness
Why may someone believe capital punishment is better than life imprisonment?
It is less cruel
Life imprisonment is costly and is rarely for life
Why may a victim’s family want capital punishment?
It gives them some relief and fulfils the aim of retribution
Why do some believe teachings on forgiveness don’t apply to some criminals?
Some crimes are unforgivable
Example of a criminal who asked for death
Ian Brady who committed the Moors Murders
On the other hand, he was classed as criminally insane so this argument may not be massively valid
What is a pacifist?
Someone who is opposed to violence
They use non-violent methods to fight injustice
Bible and Christ emphasise love as the way to overcome evil
What is the CND?
Who set it up?
Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament
Monsignor Bruce Kent (a former RC priest)
What are Contentious Objectors?
They refused to fight on the basis of conscience
They served non-combatant roles (e.g. Carrying stretchers)
They are not necessarily pacifists
Who was William Harris?
A Christian conscientious objector who believed killing is wrong. He refused to fight because he loved his country too much to help it become so deplorable. He believed everyone is a child of God.
What does God say in Deuteronomy about how to gain the promise land?
“You will destroy them” - Deuteronomy 7:24
To gain the promised land, thy had to destroy foreign tribes
What is said in Joel to support war?
“Prepare for war” - Joel 3:9
How is god described in Exodus?
“The Lord is a warrior” (Exodus 15:3)
What is said in Ecclesiastes on war?
“There is a time for war and a time for peace” - Ecclesiastes 3:8
Give 3 examples of Jesus’ violence
“I did not come to bring peace but a sword” - Matthew 10
“May you never bear fruit again” - Matthew 21
“He overturned the tables” in the temple”
Why did the story of Jesus and the centurion used to support violence?
Jesus healed the centurion’s servant (Luke 7) but didn’t scold him
Why may a Christian be against murder?
“Do not murder” - Exodus 20:13
Why would a Christian believe the right thing to do is pray for the opposition?
“Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” - Matthew 5:44
Why would a Christian believe forgiveness and making peace is good?
“Blessed are the peacemakers” - Matthew 5:9
What does the description of New Israel look like in the book of Micah?
A place of Peace, equality and justice
What did Jesus say instead of ‘an eye for an eye…’
“Turn the other cheek”
What does St. Paul say on violence?
“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts” - Colossians 3:15
“Conquer evil with good”
“Do not repay evil with evil… but with blessing”
What did Jesus say in the Garden of Gethsemane?
“All who live by the sword did by the sword”
How is the Messiah described in Isaiah?
As the ‘Prince of Peace”
What are the 4 aims of Punishment?
Deterrence - to deter others and the criminal being punished
Protection- to protect society and the innocents but also the criminals
Retribution- so society and victims can see the punishment
Reformation - giving the criminal to reform and become a better purpose
What do Christians believe is the most important aim of punishment
Reformation
Why would a Christian want to help a criminal reform?
“Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” - Matthew 5:44
“Forgive your brother… 77 times”
How would a Christian help a criminal reform?
1) understand the criminal
2) pray for the criminal
3) become involved in chaplaincy work or prison education
4) donate to a charity e.g. Bible Alive (provide Bibles and prayer resources to prisoners) or the Bourne Trust (helps prisoners and their families)
5) could try to improve prison conditions, possibly inspired by 19th century Quaker Elizabeth Fry who worked to improve the conditions in Newgate Prison for women
Why may a Christian believe you shouldn’t help a criminal reform?
‘An eye for an eye…’
Has the RCC had a good history of pacifism?
No e.g. Crusades; Spanish Inquisition
What does the RCC now encourage?
RCs to pray and work for peace and to fight evil but use the conscience
Pacifists to do non combatant roles
What does the RCC believe about nuclear weapons?
They must only be deterrents and countries should work towards reducing the number of them
What does the RCC consider war to be?
A last resort but can be a necessary evil
What does the CofE say on War?
It is an ‘unfortunate necessity’ to prevent worse evil
The government has a duty to protect its people and so war can be justified
Individuals should follow their own consciences
What did the “Church and the Bomb” Report 1983 say?
Britain needs some kind of nuclear weapon as a deterrent but countries should work together to try to reduce their number
What do Methodists teach about war?
Individuals should use their consciences
“The Christian pacifist does not necessarily condemn the use of every kind of force but refuses to employ force unnecessarily” CEM 1995, What Churches Say
What do Quakers believer about war?
They’re pacifists so they should use non-violent methods to fight injustice
What is social injustice?
When some people have fewer rights than others
Why should people fight injustice? (4)
Sanctity of Life
Stewardship - we should care for all creation
“Love they neighbour”
Golden Rule
Why would God not want some humans to be treated better than others?
“God does not show favouritism” Acts 10
2 examples of non violent protestors who fought injustice
MLK Jr. and Archbishop Desmond Tutu
Examples of non-violent protests include:
Boycotts, marches, letters, raising awareness
How could a Christian help those who suffer injustice?
Praying - “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” - Matthew 5:44
What is Amnesty International?
A charity which campaign to stop capital punishment and to improve conditions, especially for prisoners of conscience (those who were unjustly arrested)
They often do letter writing campaigns
Who were Liberation Theologians?
2 examples
They fight injustice and will resort to violence and often risk their lives
E.g. Oscar Romero who was shot while saying mass
Father Camilo Torres who said those who didn’t fight injustice lives in a “state of mortal sin”
What is the Just War Theory?
A set of guidelines created by St. Augustine in the 4th Century and was later developed by St. Thomas Aquinas which decides whether a war is just or not
What are the guidelines of the Just War Theory basically? (7)
1) Proper Authority
2) Just Cause
3) Establish Good
4) Reasonable Chance of Success
5) Last Resort
6) Sufficient Force
7) Civilians
What is Proper Authority?
The war must be declared by a government or monarch etc.
What is Just Cause?
The war must have been started for a good reason e.g. Self defence or to stop a tyrant
What is Establish Good?
The war must be fought to defeat evil
What is Reasonable Chance of Success?
Winning must be possible or lives will be wasted
What does Last Resort mean?
Everything else (e.g. Diplomacy) must have been tried
What is Sufficient Force?
Only enough Force must be used to win - no more
What does Civilians mean?
No Civilians should be involved and no deliberate harm should come to them
Until the 20th Century, very few Christians were pacifists. What changed?
9 million were killed in the First World War and in the Second World War Civilians were deliberately targeted - 50% of those killed were civilians. Christians began to understand the horrors of war.
